West Pharmaceuticals uncertain following Pfizer's discontinuation of Exubera

By Drew Buono

LIONVILLE, Pa. West Pharmaceuticals is awaiting the next move by Nektar Pharmaceuticals after Pfizer decided to stop selling its inhaled insulin drug Exubera, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

West is one of two companies that supply the inhalers to Nektar, which had licensed the product to Pfizer. Pfizer announced last week that it was discontinuing selling the drug after poor sales and criticism by consumers and doctors about the bulkiness of the device.

West chairman and chief executive officer Donald E. Morel Jr. said the ongoing impact of Pfizer’s move on his company “will depend on how Nektar decides to proceed in the wake of this change. We will continue to work with and support Nektar as they evaluate their options.”